Barham Ranch has been analyzed and scrutinized from every possible angle. Last summer, the OUSD Board of Education appointed a Citizens' Advisory Committee to study the possibility of using the land for much needed school sites. This was required by State Education Code before the land could be considered surplus to the District's needs. The only legitimate reason a school district has for owning land is for the purpose of using the land for school facilities. The unanimous recommendations of the Citizens' Advisory Committee is that the land is NOT feasible for school sites; it is surplus to the district's needs; and furthermore that the ONLY recommended use is to remain as the open space parkland. A standing-room-only crowd attended the Committee's Public Hearing and endorsed the park idea. Hundreds of other individuals faxed letters of support as well. State Education Code very clearly mandates that surplus land be offered as parkland. The OUSD Board unanimously voted to declare Barham Ranch as surplus in August 2002. We need to finish the process and sell to the County. If sold to the County, the students of OUSD will of course retain recreational access (cross country teams run there regularly), and access to a very unique educational program about inland watershed education for which Supervisor Spitzer will also allocate funds. In addition, this asset will reap millions of dollars that can then be spent on real, pressing facility needs for all of OUSD. The list of needs is long, and they need to start somewhere.

This has been a long and thorough process and the time is now to achieve finality in this issue. Instead of being a non-performing asset, let's get the $$ working for the schools. The school district has many issues that deserve attention, so let's lay this issue to rest already!!

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Theresa Sears
Marilyn Ganahl

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